Multipurpose faucet to release a water stream in two directions

ABSTRACT

A faucet includes a faucet pipe, a branch pipe, a fountain valve, and a fountain nozzle with a pressure compensating flow regulator wherein the faucet pipe having a proximal end to release a water stream in a downward direction through a lower channel and a branch pipe disposed within the faucet pipe to release the water stream in an upward direction through the fountain nozzle with the fountain valve configured within the proximal end of the faucet pipe to redirect the water stream to the branch pipe by gradually blocking and unblocking the upper channel of the branch pipe and wherein the pressure compensating flow regulator is disposed with the fountain opening to compensate the pressure of the water stream released from the fountain opening and control trajectory of the water stream discharged from the fountain opening.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to a faucet and moreparticularly to a faucet for releasing a water stream in two differentdirections.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a faucet includes a hot water knob and a cold water knobwhich can be used to control the flow of water though the faucet whichis utilized for hand washing, face washing or utensil cleaning. However,the existing faucets are inconvenient to use for purposes other thanconventional hand washing, unhygienic, and result into wasting a largeamount of water.

Thus, in view of the above, there is a long-felt need in the industry toaddress the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present disclosure, a faucet is providedcomprising: a faucet pipe having a free end to dispense water forutilitarian purposes; a branch channel disposed within the faucet pipehaving a fountain opening to enable a user to drink water directly froma water stream discharged from the fountain opening when the waterstream is directed through the branch channel and fountain opening; afountain valve for blocking and unblocking an opening to the branchchannel to direct the water stream to the branch channel and to the freeend of the faucet pipe to control the water stream discharged from thefree end of the faucet and the water stream entering the branch channel;and a fountain nozzle disposed with the fountain opening to reduce thewater pressure of the water stream discharged from the fountain openingand control the trajectory of the water stream discharged from thefountain opening. With such an arrangement, a faucet to release a waterstream in two directions is provided.

According to the embodiments illustrated herein, a faucet to release awater stream in two directions is provided. The faucet includes a faucetpipe, a branch pipe, a fountain valve, and a fountain nozzle with apressure compensating flow regulator wherein the faucet pipe having aproximal end to release a water stream in a downward direction through alower channel and a branch pipe disposed within the faucet pipe torelease the water stream in an upward direction through the fountainnozzle with the fountain valve configured within the proximal end of thefaucet pipe to redirect the water stream to the branch pipe by graduallyblocking and unblocking the upper channel of the branch pipe and whereinthe pressure compensating flow regulator is disposed with the fountainopening to compensate the pressure of the water stream released from thefountain opening and control trajectory of the water stream dischargedfrom the fountain.

The details of one or more embodiments of the disclosure are set forthin the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a multipurpose faucet inaccordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the multipurpose faucet inaccordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of the multipurpose faucet beforea fountain nozzle and a rotary valve are attached;

FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the multipurpose faucet showingthe water flow with the fountain valve in a first position to allow thewater flow through a branch channel to provide a water fountain;

FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the multipurpose faucet showingthe water flow with the fountain valve in a second position to allow thewater flow through the exit channel; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an operational view of the multipurpose faucet as awater fountain with the proximal end blocked in accordance with thedisclosure.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a multipurpose faucet 100(also referred to as faucet 100) is shown to include a faucet pipe 102with a cold water valve 110 and a hot water valve 112 disposed at adistal end of the faucet pipe 102. The latter are found in conventionalwater faucets and will not be discussed in detail. The faucet 100further includes a fountain nozzle 20 and a fountain valve 108 when inan off position releases water though an opening 104 at a proximal endof the faucet 102 and when in an on position releases water using thefountain nozzle 20 through a fountain nozzle opening 106 as to bedescribed further.

Referring now also to FIG. 2, a sectional view of the faucet 100 isshown with the various details of the faucet 100. The faucet pipe 102has an inner channel 114 that narrows to a lower channel 116. The faucetpipe 102 also includes an upper channel 118 that is separated from thelower channel 116 by a channel wall 150. An opening 162 is disposed at aproximal end of the upper channel 118 and an opening 126 is disposed ata distal end of the upper channel 118. A proximal end of the lowerchannel 116 connects to the fountain valve 108 through opening 166 in acasting 152. The fountain valve 108 includes a rotary valve 130 with astem 146 and openings 148 in the side walls of the rotary valve 130. Therotary valve 130 is disposed within the side walls 158 of the casting152. The rotary valve 130 further includes two pins 144 which mate withholes 142 to prevent the base of rotary valve 130 from rotating when thestem 146 is moved. Referring now also to FIG. 2A, a fountain valveopening 170 in the faucet 100 accommodates the rotary valve 130 and whenthe rotary valve 130 is inserted into fountain valve opening 170, therotary valve 130 is set so that pins 144 are inserted into holes 142.The fountain valve opening 170 includes an external wall 176 with aninner wall 172 having threads 174 formed on the inner wall 172. Tosecure the rotary valve 130 in the fountain valve opening 170, athreaded end cap 132 is screwed into the fountain valve opening 170 withthe threads 174 mating with the threads of the of the threaded end cap132. A cover 134 having threads to mate with the threads 174 is disposedover the threaded end cap 132 by screwing the cover 134 into thefountain valve opening 170. A fountain valve handle 136 is mated withthe stem 146 so that a user can open and close the fountain valve 108.

To provide the fountain nozzle 20, a fountain housing 120 includes afountain aerator 122 and a pressure compensating flow regulator 124disposed within the fountain housing 120. The fountain housing 120includes threads 22 provided on the exterior wall of the fountainhousing 120 which mate with the threads 128 in the fountain housingopening 126 to secure the fountain nozzle 20 to the fountain housingopening 126. To fabricate the fountain nozzle 20, the fountain aerator122 is placed in the fountain housing 120 and then the pressurecompensating flow regulator 124 is pressed fit into the fountain housing120. The fountain aerator 122 is a typical aerator selected for thisparticular application. The pressure compensating flow regulator 124 isselected to provide a suitable arch of water exiting the fountain nozzleopening 106 and for example a MR05 US type manufactured by Neoperl canbe used. The angle of the fountain nozzle 20 is set to ensure thetrajectory of a fountain arc, in combination with the pressurecompensating flow regulator 124, provides a suitable fountain arc fordrinking from without overshooting a sink. With the pressure reducingflow regulator 124 sitting below the fountain aerator 122 which controlsthe flow pressure, a consistent flow of water through the fountainnozzle 20 results in a consistent fountain height.

It should now be appreciated in accordance with the present disclosure,a faucet is provided including a faucet pipe having a free end todispense water for utilitarian purposes, a branch channel disposedwithin the faucet pipe having a fountain opening to enable a user todrink water directly from a water stream discharged from the fountainopening when the water stream is directed through the branch channel andfountain opening, a fountain valve for blocking and unblocking anopening to the branch channel to direct the water stream to the branchchannel and to the free end of the faucet pipe to control the waterstream discharged from the free end of the faucet and the water streamentering the branch channel and a fountain nozzle disposed with thefountain opening to reduce the water pressure of the water streamdischarged from the fountain opening and control the trajectory of thewater stream discharged from the fountain opening.

Having described the details of the faucet 100, a description of theoperation of the faucet 100 will follow. The faucet 100 discharges waterthrough opening 104 when fountain valve 108 is closed and operatessimilar to typical household sink faucets. Unlike typical household sinkfaucets, faucet 100 also provides a fountain opening 106 where a waterstream 30 is provided so that a user can drink water from the waterstream 30 as shown in FIG. 5. The faucet pipe 102 includes a free orproximal end 40 to release a water stream in a downward directionthrough the opening 104 and the branch pipe or channel 118 disposedwithin the faucet pipe 102 having a fountain nozzle 20 to release thewater stream in an upward direction through the fountain nozzle opening106.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotary valve 130 as part of thefountain valve 108 includes openings 148 in the side walls of the rotaryvalve 130. The rotary valve 130 also include an opening 162′ and anopening 164′ at the bottom of the rotary valve 130 which mate withopening 162 and opening 166, respectively. When fountain valve 108 is inthe open position, opening 162′ is in the open position where theopening 162′ is not blocked and the water stream traveling down channel116 flows through rotary valve 130 and out the opening 162′ and throughopening 162 to redirect the water stream to the upper channel 118 (shownin FIG. 3) and out opening 126. As described above, the fountain valve108 is a ceramic disc valve which utilizes a plurality of fire-hardenedceramic discs such as a movable upper ceramic disc, and a fixed lowerceramic disc. The movable upper disc and the fixed lower disc moveagainst each other in a shearing action to block the water stream, orallow the water stream to pass through the opening in fountain valve108. As shown in FIG. 3, in the open position, the opening 162′ is openand not blocked and the opening 164′ is blocked so the water does notflow to opening 164.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, when fountain valve 108 is in the closedor normal position, opening 162′ is in the closed position where theopening 162′ is blocked. Instead, opening 164′ is in the open positionwhere the opening 164′ is not blocked and the water stream travelingdown channel 116 flows through rotary valve 130 and out the opening 164′and through opening 164 to redirect the water stream toward the opening104 (shown in FIG. 4) and out opening 104. The water stream will alsoflow through the sides of rotary valve 130 from one side to the otherthrough the rotary valve 130.

In the shown embodiment, the faucet pipe 102 includes a casting 152engineered to house the rotary valve 130 that releases the water streamin the downward direction or block the water stream to redirect it tothe fountain opening depending upon it's open or closed position.

The pressure compensating flow regulator 124 is disposed with thefountain nozzle 20 to compensate the pressure of the water streamreleased from the fountain aerator 122 and control trajectory of thewater stream discharged from the fountain nozzle 20. In an embodiment,the pressure compensating flow regulator 124 operates as a flexibleorifice to ensure a predefined constant flow rate is maintainedindependent of the prevailing water line pressure.

In an embodiment, the branch pipe 102 includes a housing around therotary valve 130, here a ceramic disc valve, to redirect the waterstream when a water stream required in the upward direction. The branchpipe 102 further directs the water stream in the downward direction, bybypassing the fountain nozzle 20 entirely, to eliminate the need for amechanism to prevent the water stream from exiting the fountain opening.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the faucet 100, in accordancewith at least one embodiment. The sectional view of the faucet 100 showsthe branch pipe 118 (also referred to as the upper channel 118), theceramic disc valve 130 (also referred to as rotary valve 130), thepressure compensating flow regulator 124, and a fountain aerator 122.The ceramic disk valve 130 gradually blocks and unblocks the proximalend 40 of the faucet pipe 102 to control the water stream dischargedfrom the proximal end 104 of the faucet pipe 102 and the water streamentering to the branch pipe 118. In operation, when the faucet 100 is innormal operation, the faucet 100 functions as a normal water faucet. Inan embodiment, a lever 136 is attached to the ceramic disk valve 130.

When the lever rotates ¼ turn, the water no longer discharges from thedownspout aerator with opening 104 (shown in FIG. 3) and the waterstream is rerouted to the fountain aerator 122 to create the waterfountain effect. In an exemplary embodiment, the fountain aerator 122configured with the pressure compensating flow regulator 124 has a flowrate of 0.5 GPM (Gallons per Minute). The fountain aerator 122 is a lowflow faucet aerator well suited for bathrooms, washing hands or face andrinsing after brushing one's teeth. In comparison to standard 2.2 GPMfountain aerators when using the faucet in normal faucet operating use,the 0.5 GPM aerator reduces the water flow rate by 77%. However, thepresent fountain aerator 122 can utilize various pressure compensatingflow regulators 124 to compensate for various water pressures. Forexample, in case of normal water pressure, the present faucet canutilizes a 0.5 GPM pressure reducer, and in case of higher waterpressure, a 1.4 GPM pressure compensating flow regulator 204 can beutilized for a higher fountain arc or to maintain a certain fountain archeight under greater pressure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a view of the multipurpose faucet with a blockedproximal end to create a water fountain, in accordance with at least oneembodiment. If the fountain valve 108 is not completely (less than 100%)opened or closed, then the water steam passes through both the fountainnozzle opening 106 and the downspout aerator opening 104. For example,if the fountain knob 108 rotates 50%, then half the water stream passesthrough the fountain 106 and half the water stream passes through thedownspout aerator opening 104. The arrows (FIG. 3) and (FIG. 4) show thedirections of the water flow. The water stream travels through a lowerchannel 210 toward the downspout aerator opening 104 when operating as ageneral faucet, and when the lever is rotated, the water stream isre-routed through an upper channel 118 to the fountain opening 106. Thismechanism provides sufficient water pressure to pass through thefountain opening 106. However, the present faucet 100 utilizes apressure compensating flow regulator 124 that has a pressure reducingcapability in the fountain nozzle 20, which thereby reduces the waterpressure as needed and generates a consistent height water fountain atthe same time.

FIG. 5 illustrates an operational view of the faucet 100, in accordancewith at least one embodiment. The operation view of the present faucetshows the water stream flows in upward direction as a fountain 30through the fountain opening 106. The fountain capability of the presentfaucet 100 is convenient for rinsing after brushing one's teeth,drinking water, rinsing one's face, and even to serve as an emergencyhome eyewash station. By eliminating the need for using a drinking cupthat may be dirty or one's hand to obtain water for rinsing or drinking,the present invention provides a hygienic multi-purpose fountain faucet.

No language in the specification should be construed as indicating anynon-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

A number of embodiments of the disclosure have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A faucet comprising: a faucet pipe having a fountain housing opening,the faucet pipe comprising; an inner channel with a lower channel; anupper channel; a channel wall and a casting to separate the upperchannel from the lower channel; the upper channel having a first openingdisposed at a proximal end of the upper channel and a second openingdisposed at a distal end of the upper channel, the second openingproviding the fountain housing opening; a fountain valve for blockingand unblocking an opening to the upper channel to direct the waterstream to the upper channel and to a free end of the faucet pipe tocontrol the water stream discharged from the free end of the faucet andthe water stream entering the upper channel, the fountain valveconnected to the proximal end of the lower channel, the fountain valvedisposed within side walls of the casting, the fountain valve connectingthe lower channel with the upper channel in a first position andconnecting the lower channel with the free end of the faucet pipe in asecond position; and a fountain nozzle disposed within the fountainhousing opening, the fountain nozzle comprising: a fountain housing; afountain aerator disposed within the fountain housing; and a pressurecompensating flow regulator disposed with the fountain housing.
 2. Thefaucet of claim 1 wherein the fountain valve comprises: a rotary valvewith a base and a stem and openings in side walls of the base of therotary valve and the rotary valve mated with the casting to control flowof water through the fountain valve when the stem is rotated.
 3. Thefaucet of claim 2 wherein the fountain valve comprises: two pinsdisposed on the rotary valve which mate with holes in the casting toprevent the base of rotary valve from rotating when the stem is moved.4. The faucet of claim 2 wherein the the fountain valve is horizontal.5. The faucet of claim 1 wherein the upper channel comprises: a channeldisposed within the faucet pipe to control water flow from the fountainvalve to the fountain nozzle.
 6. A multipurpose faucet to release awater stream in two directions, the faucet comprising: a faucet pipehaving a proximal end to release the water stream in a downwarddirection through a lower channel; a branch pipe having a first openingdisposed at a proximal end of the branch pipe and a second openingdisposed at a distal end of the branch pipe, the branch pipe disposedwithin the faucet pipe, the second opening providing a fountain openingto release the water stream in an upward direction through an upperchannel; a channel wall and a casting to separate the upper channel fromthe lower channel; a fountain valve connected to the first opening ofthe branch pipe to redirect the water stream to the upper channel of thebranch pipe by gradually blocking, and unblocking the proximal end ofthe faucet pipe; and a pressure compensating flow regulator disposedwithin the fountain opening to compensate the pressure of the waterstream released from a fountain aerator for insufficient flow at lowerpressure and excess flow at higher pressure, and control trajectory ofthe water stream discharged from the fountain aerator.
 7. The faucetaccording to claim 6, wherein the fountain valve comprises a ceramicdisc valve which utilizes plurality of fire-hardened ceramic discs suchas a movable upper ceramic disc, and a fixed lower ceramic disc.
 8. Thefaucet according to claim 7, wherein the movable upper disc and thefixed lower disc move against each other in a shearing action to blockthe water stream, or allow the water stream to pass through the branchpipe.
 9. The faucet according to claim 6, wherein the casting matesaround a ceramic disc valve, wherein the casting includes an open endengineered to house the ceramic disc valve to release the water streamin the downward direction or block the water stream to redirect to thefountain opening.
 10. The faucet according to claim 6 wherein the branchpipe comprises a housing around a ceramic disc valve to redirect thewater stream to an upper channel when a water stream is required in theupward direction.
 11. The faucet according to claim 10 wherein thefountain valve directs the water stream in the downward directionthrough a lower channel by bypassing the upper channel entirely toeliminate the need for a mechanism to prevent the water stream fromexiting the fountain opening.
 12. The faucet according to claim 6wherein an angle of the fountain aerator is provided to ensure atrajectory of a fountain arc, in combination with the pressurecompensating flow regulator, provides a fountain arc for drinking fromwithout overshooting a sink.
 13. A faucet comprising: a faucet pipehaving a fountain housing opening, the faucet pipe comprising: an innerchannel with a lower channel; an upper channel; a channel wall and acasting to separate the upper channel from the lower channel; the upperchannel having a first opening disposed at a proximal end of the upperchannel and a second opening disposed at a distal end of the upperchannel; a fountain valve connected to the proximal end of the lowerchannel, the fountain valve including a rotary valve with a stem andopening on side walls of the rotary valve and disposed within side wallsof the casting, the fountain valve connecting the lower channel with theupper channel in a first position and connecting the lower channel witha free end of the faucet pips in a second position; and a fountainnozzle disposed within the fountain housing opening and connected to theupper channel, the fountain nozzle comprising: a fountain housing; and afountain aerator disposed within the fountain housing.
 14. The faucetaccording to claim 13 wherein a diameter of the fountain nozzle, incombination with a height of the fountain nozzle, is used to create awater stream for a fountain arc without overshooting a sink.